Mechanism for introducing water into concrete mixers



Jan. 30, 1945. c. F. BALL 2,368,402

' MECHANISM FOR INTRODUCII IG WATER INTO CONCRETE MIKE RS Filed Feb. 10, 1941 I FIGJ.

Z CharZesEBczZZ INVENTOR.

BY w zzzm ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 30, 1945 Y Q f 2,368,402 1 i I MECHANISM FOB-INTRODUCING WAT R INTQQCONCRETEFMIXERS v 5 u I Charles F. Ball, Wauwatosa,* Wis., assignor to i j i ChainBeltCompany, Milwaukee, Wis., a 001? l l U vDonation f,Wiscon sin t u ApplicationFebruary 10,1941,Seriall\lo.378,191

v I r claim. (Cl. 259e-1168). fThis inventionre'lates to concrete mixers" and sufficient water'for at least one complete batch mechanism for introducing water therein/IMor'e or concrete and'preferably enough additional p ti y he n entio finds application "in water to act. as awash subsequent to discharge concrete mixers of the truck mounted type in ofthe batch. A discharge pipe H leadingfrom whi h n rete formingv ingredients are loaded 5 the bottom of the tank l0 communicates witha n t e t a relatively v 'Withthe centrifugal ump I2 driven by the engine 9, and

re t p i on truck mixer d m Whi hare a .valve I3 is interposed in the line betweenthe mounted on an inclined axis to provide discharge pump and the tank. Communicating with the at the higher end, the problem of water introduce discharge side of pump l2 through a suitable duct tion into the drum has become more accentuated, is apipe l4 ,which extends axially through the la gely due to the piling up 'of material in such lower head of drum 8and onto which is threaded drums atfthe lowerend where water maybe most the water fitting l5 shown in detail in Figures advantageously introduced.

2 and 3. It will .be appreciated that suitable Not onlyis it more difiicult to inject the water packing is provided around the pipe at the point beneath the mass of concrete forming materials Where the latter extends through the drum head within reasonably satisfactory time-limits, but and the lower bearing, since the drum revolves it is also more difficult to disperse the water while the pipe is stationary. through the materials tothereby enable produc- Although not as shown in the drawing, it will tion of a uniform concrete, and once concrete is be understood that the engine and pump may be formed, there is more opportunity for the openenclosed so that the heat of the engine can be ing to become clogged with concrete which, after used to maintain the water supply conduit free setting, will prevent the addition of water to from'the ill'effects of freezing.

subsequent batches. Fitting l5 comprises essentially a, central duct It is an object of the present invention to promember'forming a continuation of the water supvide improved mechanism for introducing water ply conduit, which extends a substantial distance into mixer drums which will require less time for axially within the drum, and a body or cap I6 water discharge, which will facilitate faster and mounted concentrically of the conduit'and enimproved mixing by the dispersion of water closing the end and a portion of the conduit. For through the materials, and which will not bepurposes of assembly, the conduit is made'in two come clogged by the formation and setting of parts. One part comprisesashort pipe section I! concrete within the discharge orifice. threaded at both ends, one end engaging the With the foregoing object in view, the inventhreaded end of pipe l4, while the other end ention resides in the novel combination and argages a tube l8 which forms the terminus of the raneement o pa t as hereinafter described. and Water conduit. Welded to the outside r tube l8, pointed out in the appended claim. a short distance from its threaded end, and form- One embodiment of the invention is illustrated ing a shoulder thereon, is a disc l9. Interposed in the accompanying drawing. in which: between the pipe section I! and the shoulder, and

Figure l is a side elevational 'view of a concrete ,mounted on tube l8 are Washer 20 nd di 2|, th mixer drum Showin the relation of the water sup- 40 latter being of yieldable material such as rubber,

p y system thereto; the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional Body member Isis closed at the end adjacent view of t Water discharge a ism as posithe discharge end of the tube and is slightly tion ed within the drum; and larger than and concentric with the tube to afford Figure 3 is an end elevation of the device a return passageway of water therebetween. The viewed from the left of Figure 2. lower portion of body I6 is belled, with a flange In the drawin t e numeral 7 de g ates t e 22 disposed radially of the drum axis at the outer mixer frame 'upon which is mounted for rotation periphery of th b 11 F supporti cap [6, on an inclined axis the mixing drum 8. Rotaplurality of bent rods 23 are welded to theoutside tion of the drum is preferably effected through of pipe section II, thereby forming a spider to a chain drive entrained around the lower head which is secured a flange 24' arranged to register of the drum, the driving sprocket being connected with flange 22 in order that the parts may be through a suitable transmission with a source joined by bolt assemblies 25. It will be noted that of power such as engine 9. Disposed above the this mounting of the cap external to the conduit engine is a water tank l0 adapted to hold affords no obstruction to the passageof water through the conduit and out of the cap, except for the slight obstruction caused by the spider which is spaced from the water discharge opening in order to minimize this obstruction.

Disc 2| is disposed to completely shut off the passage of water between the cap and the conduit,

the disc being cup shaped. when in contact with the belled portion of the cap thereby exerting a pressure which is sufiicient not only to maintain this disc valve closed but also to prevent leakage of water against smalloheadpressures in, the conduit. Leakage of water'is'especially. 'diie ing, the water orifice, with normal batches of I material, will be completely submerged in the ficult when there is concrete in the drum because Q of the pressure created bythe concrete against the valve. J :11. Due to the incline of the conduit l1 and I 8 axially of the inclined drum, the end of the'conduit is disposed above the water outlet with the result that water may be maintained in this portion of the conduit. Consequently, should any concrete work its way back pastthe valve into the conduit it will be suspended as a weak solution and cannot set or clog the opening.

When it is desired to introduce the water into the batch, valve I3 is opened and the pump 12 is put in operation. Under the pressure created, water escapes past the fiexibledisc valve 2! and flows through the opening; The stream is directed against the drum head, and hence diverted around the sides of the drum and into the materials. 1 Preferably, the drum is rotated in such a direction that the blades may -move material toward the elevated discharge end of the drum during mixing. Even-with this method of -mixhaving a'material transfer opening at the other end; means forintroducing water into the drum and efiectingrapid hydration of the concrete forming ingredients during rotation of the drum comprising a conduit arranged to extend axially through, the closed end of the drum, a distance into the interior thereof, a bell shaped member enclosing the end of said conduit and directing the flow of liquid away from the open end of the drum, a flexible diaphragm disposed between said member and said conduit with its outer periphery adapted to seat against said bell shaped member, a hub disposed adjacentthe open end of said 'member, a spider rigidly connecting said hub to said conduit at a distance removed from the opening of said bell and means mounting said hell on said hub to provide concentric passageways for reversing the direction of flow of water within said bell.

CHARLES F. BALL. 

